Once upon a time there was a recount of a statewide election in Wisconsin in which the discovery of open and torn vote bags was a prominent scandal. Over 150 bags! That fabled recount was called “The Kloppenburg-Prosser Recount” and it occurred long ago in the year 2011.
In that year and that time it was impossible for those torn-open bags discovered in the darkest recesses of Waukesha County and elsewhere to be used to challenge the votes contained therein.
Today Republican hearts were racing when 2 open vote bags were discovered in Racine during the Lehman-Wanggaard state senate seat recount.
Back in May of 2011, candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court Joanne Kloppenburg explained that there was no use pursuing a court action over the anomalies she found in her recount because:
“Wisconsin courts have held that absent connivance, fraud, or undue influence, substantial compliance with the statutory voting procedures is sufficient…the defects or irregularities in the sealing and securing of the ballot bags, as documented in the recount minutes, would not be sufficient to meet the threshold set by law.”
Of course these are two very different recounts.
Kloppenburg forged ahead with a recount with remarkably little professional support. Volunteer lawyers and citizens did the best they could to offer oversight in all 72 Wisconsin counties.
In contrast Republican Van Wanggaard is able to proceed with his recount in 1 state senate district with the full blessing and resources of his party. While I still don’t see Wanggaard winning this thing, he has the resources and the absence of self-respect necessary to drag it out until at least November when 16 state senate seats will be up for grabs.
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